Thamnophis copei, Cope's mountain meadow snake, is a vulnerable species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species was originally described by Alfredo Dugès in 1897, and is endemic to Mexico.[1][4] It is the type species of the genus Adelophis Dugès, 1879.[4]

Thamnophis copei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Thamnophis
Species:
T. copei
Binomial name
Thamnophis copei
Dugès, 1879
Map of western central Mexico, showing a highlighted range (in red) covering four small areas in Jalisco
Geographic range of Adelophis copei
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Adelophis copei
    Dugès in Cope, 1879
  • Storeria copei
    Garman, 1883
  • Ischnognathus copii
    Boulenger, 1893
  • Adelophis copei
    Dunn, 1931

Description

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Thamnophis copei is a small and moderately slender snake that has a maximum total length (including tail) of 392 mm (15.4 in). The tail is about one fifth of the total length.[3]

Habitat and geographic range

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Thamnophis copei lives in the wetlands of west-central Mexico, in such areas in the Mexican states of Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and northern Morelos.[1]

Conservation status

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Thamnophis copei is threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and human settlement. Mexico has placed national laws protecting the species, and the species is being researched for more ways to protect it. It is protected in the Sierra Los Huicholes reserve.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ponce-Campos, P.; García Aguayo, A. (2007). "Adelophis copei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63727A12711203. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63727A12711203.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Boulenger GA (1893). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (Ischnognathus copii, p. 289).
  3. ^ a b Rossman DA, Wallach V (1987). "Adelophis Dugès", Mountain Meadow Snakes". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (408): 1-2.
  4. ^ a b Thamnophis copei at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 6 February 2015.

Further reading

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Dugès A (1879). In: Cope ED (1879). "Eleventh Contribution to the Herpetology of Tropical America". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 18: 261-277. (Adelophis copei, new species, pp. 265–266).